Three restaurants at Kwong Fai Circuit in Kwai Chung, which failed to install air pollution control equipment for their cooking stoves in accordance with the statutory notices and generated cooking fumes that caused an environmental nuisance to the nearby residents, were fined a total of $12,000 at Fanling Magistrates' Courts on July 4 and today (July 11) for contravening the Air Pollution Control Ordinance (APCO).

During the investigation of a complaint against restaurants emitting cooking fumes in July 2016, Environmental Protection Department (EPD) enforcement officers found that the three restaurants concerned did not install appropriate air pollution control equipment for their cooking stoves. As the exhaust outlets of the restaurants were facing the narrow back alley between two buildings, the cooking fume emissions could hardly be dispersed, thereby affecting the residents and an elderly care home nearby. The EPD then issued statutory notices to the restaurants in accordance with the APCO, requesting them to install electrostatic precipitators for effective control of cooking fumes before specified dates. As the restaurants failed to comply with the statutory notices to install effective air pollution control equipment before the specified dates, the EPD subsequently prosecuted the operators of the restaurants.

An EPD spokesman reminded operators of food business that they should install and use proper air pollution control equipment according to the EPD's guidelines. They should also ensure regular maintenance and proper operation of their exhaust systems and air pollution control equipment so as to avoid causing air pollution or nuisance to nearby residents. Operators of food business should comply with statutory notices to carry out relevant improvement works within the specified time. Otherwise, it constitutes an offence and offenders will be prosecuted. According to the APCO, first-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $100,000. A maximum fine of $200,000 and six months' imprisonment may be imposed on second or subsequent convictions and a daily fine of $20,000 may be imposed for a continuing offence.

Guidelines and pamphlets on the control of cooking fumes and odours from restaurants and food business have been uploaded to the EPD's website for public reference: